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All iPads Do I buy an iPad Air, or wait until next year for either an iPad Pro, or 2Gb of RAM?

MartinAppleGuy said:
2Gb of RAM is really needed though on the iPad line. The iPad 4 is actually better off as it uses 32bit rather than 64 because 64bit has a 20-30% increase in RAM footprint.
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It's only better in the sense of RAM usage. Or if you prefer the added weight for strength training or use your iPad as a doorstop when not using it for its intended purpose. :p

Whether the iPad Air (or iPad rMini) are going to work for people comes down to their usage and their willingness to deal with the design/engineering decisions Apple chose for this device. It's faster in nearly every benchmark done as compared to the iPad 4, but some of that speed may be lost when waiting for webpages and apps to reload.

For my usage, the Air is a very intriguing device. I'm still a regular user of an iPad 3 (just didn't see the iPad 4 as a necessary upgrade), and the Air represents a much faster device in a smaller package with an equally good (maybe slightly better calibrated/brighter) screen - and that Retina screen is my favorite part of the iPad. It also lets me use a single cable type (Lightning) with all my iOS devices. But, even when I'm using an iPad for productivity purposes, I'm a one app at a time kind of person. I don't even liking having more than 6 or 7 tabs open at once (at most) on my browser - too distracting. When I want to use lots of apps/windows at the same time, I switch to my computer because that's how I work. 1 GB RAM isn't as limiting to me as it would be for someone who works differently than I do.

Next year's iPad will probably move up in RAM class. Or maybe not.
 
I do understand that 1GB of RAM is certainly enough.
We have come to a point whereby most consumers will find 1GB of ram to be adequate. After all, its not like every single app crashes upon opening because of insufficient memory.
But my greatest concern is: Is the iPhone 5S and the iPad Air or any other device with the A7 Chip simply just a test product for 64bit architecture?

I was quite worried when I saw that the iPhone 5S is coming with just 1 GB of ram. But at that time, not so much. Its a phone, and apps certainly will use lesser ram.
But now, we are talking the iPad, with a much larger internals to work about, and don't forgot iPad apps are certainly more RAM demanding than their iPhone counterparts. And Bam, 1GB of ram. Is this a joke?

Apple can't talk 64bit WITHOUT increasing RAM! Yes, 64Bit does bring more advanced processing as it can crunch even more numbers, but what's the point when barely 2 or more heavy apps can be kept in the background without it closing down all the time? Safari on my 5S just keeps reloading my tabs. This is worse than what I have experienced on my 5. At least my 5 keeps all my tabs open even with maybe 5 apps I have launched after it.

I am not asking Apple to increase their RAM until it only gives diminishing returns. (3GB of RAM, note 3 seriously?) Perhaps even an additional 500Mb of RAM is more than enough to avoid all these outrage. But rarely anyone doesn't follow the 'integer' rule beyond 1GB of RAM. Beyond 1GB, its 2GB, rarely would anyone opt for 1.5GB.

The situation is not that bad compared to what the Original iPad was however. 256MB of Ram on that device is atrocious (Not at that time) and is hardly any future proofing. But 1GB of ram, although definitely not future proofing, but is definitely just adequate enough for the next two years.
So that been said, the A7 chip is powerful yes, but is bottlenecked by the stingy 1GB Ram, not to mention that 64bit optimized apps need more ram. 64bit apps cannot be fully utilized unless Apple decides to do something about the RAM situation.

What now?

If you own an iPad 1 or iPad 2: The iPad Air will be a compelling upgrade.
If you own an iPad 3/4: The iPad air is an upgrade with diminishing returns. Upgrade at risk.
 
It's like waiting for what? Buy it and use it. Have to live for today not for tomorrow.... My two cents,
 
keigo said:
what if next year still 1gb ram, then how?
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He can decide to get the new iPad or buy a refurb Air at considerable discount. :p

mpayne2k said:
If you buy now, catch the wave, enjoy the iPad for the time being and sell it before the next refresh with good resale value the iPad typically holds on to....
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The 64-128GB models typically don't have very good resale value. :eek:
 
shadow puppet said:
Re: the OP's original post.....
IMO, this is something only you can decide. Weigh your plans on how you want to use your iPad and go from there. I've already waited 2 years too long and am done waiting.
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I have decided to buy a rMBP 13" with 8Gb of RAM, and 256Gb of SSD storage.
 
I think the real reason for hesitation—this time—is because this is the first time that three generations of hardware in a row have had the same amount of RAM. It doesn't make much sense to come in on the back-end of that if you want your hardware to last a while. This is further complicated by the fact that 64-bit applications use 20-30% more memory (according to AnandTech), effectively limiting the potential lifespan even more than the 4th gen iPad. Don't be fooled by speed, RAM has always been the bottleneck for iOS devices. These devices are fast enough now that RAM is a more important factor. The next gen will certainly have more.

That being said, this is still a big upgrade from my iPad 2 (which I've already sold) and more than enough for my wife and her basic usage. We've been sharing a single iPad since it launched and have decided we'll do the same for this generation and she will take over full possession when the next one comes out. So instead of getting two iPads, one a 16GB and one a 128GB with LTE, we'll probably just get one with 32 or 64GB. My wife just needs to decide if she wants a Mini or Air. If we get a Mini we'll probably get 64GB.

The obvious upside, in my case, for doing things this way is if an iPad Pro launches sometime next year I can pick it up.
 
MartinAppleGuy said:
It has less RAM than last year. And 64 bit apps take up 20-30% more RAM than 32bit. So we have lost 30% of RAM.
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Some people claim that, but it is totally contrary to everything I know. The biggest culprits for using RAM are images that can take huge amounts of memory. They don't grow. Text, music, videos, they all don't grow. Code grows a little bit, but code is a very minor part of any application nowadays. There are actually situations where you need less space in 64 bit.
 
MartinAppleGuy said:
I plan to get an iPad for gaming (Deus Ex, XCOM, GTA...). With 64bit taking up 20-30% more RAM for each application, I don't feel the iPad Air will last as long for my needs. How long will I have to wait for next years iPad (March for an iPad Pro), or just a 6th gen. iPad with 2Gb of RAM?
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maybe you can consolidate your every thought on the subject into one post? save some RAM.
 
I'm a little concerned with the ram too. I've never had an iPad so this will be my first and I want it to be a good experience (which I'm sure it will be)

I know android isn't as well optimized but I'm suffering right now with lack of ram on my GNex and it is NOT FUN.

My question. Would it make sense if I suspected I would upgrade In a year anyway to get the 16gb model (which will lose the least resale value) vs the 32 GB model I was planning on? Also does anyone remember how much the iPad 4 was when it first hit the refurb store? Don't know if I can wait that long but if I am being responsible I probably should.
 
Saturn1217 said:
I'm a little concerned with the ram too. I've never had an iPad so this will be my first and I want it to be a good experience (which I'm sure it will be)

I know android isn't as well optimized but I'm suffering right now with lack of ram on my GNex and it is NOT FUN.

My question. Would it make sense if I suspected I would upgrade In a year anyway to get the 16gb model (which will lose the least resale value) vs the 32 GB model I was planning on? Also does anyone remember how much the iPad 4 was when it first hit the refurb store? Don't know if I can wait that long but if I am being responsible I probably should.
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Hi. The iPad Air was going to be my first iPad too. But the RAM really has made me change my mind. I am buying a Retina Macbook Pro with the increased RAM and storage. I have two family members still buying an iPad Air though.

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Saturn1217 said:
I'm a little concerned with the ram too. I've never had an iPad so this will be my first and I want it to be a good experience (which I'm sure it will be)

I know android isn't as well optimized but I'm suffering right now with lack of ram on my GNex and it is NOT FUN.

My question. Would it make sense if I suspected I would upgrade In a year anyway to get the 16gb model (which will lose the least resale value) vs the 32 GB model I was planning on? Also does anyone remember how much the iPad 4 was when it first hit the refurb store? Don't know if I can wait that long but if I am being responsible I probably should.
Click to expand...


The iPad 4 can be found for £60 less I believe. Personally I was hoping for an A7 with a 1.4Ghz clock speed(I got that), 2Gb of RAM and the G6630 GPU. Was disappointed with it as I use it for gaming(well not anyone, here comes my retina MB :) ).

If an iPad Pro doesn't come, at least the next iPad will get 2Gb of RAM.

What do you use your iPad for/planning on using it for?

If gaming/video editing. Wait
Basic web browsing, light games. Should be fine.
 
A few nervous buyers :D

I don't blame you, these ain't cheap

And who knows, maybe there is a problem

But Anand (and other thinking people) would probably have sounded alarms, instead of just mentioning it, if the problem was serious.

I mean, what do we know?
 
I have to ask

What do you do that you think 1 GB of RAM on the iPad is holding you back?

By that I meant real life usage, not theoretical application. When was the last time you said to yourself, "man, I need more RAM. That cat picture is missing a tail."?

If that never happened, then it's like hesitating about purchasing a car because it doesn't have a flux capacitor.
 
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meistervu said:
What do you do that you think 1 GB of RAM on the iPad is holding you back?

By that I meant real life usage, not theoretical application. When was the last time you said to yourself, "man, I need more RAM. That cat picture is missing a tail."?

If that never happened, then it's like hesitating about purchasing a car because it doesn't have a flux capacitor.
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So you think I look at cat pictures!!! :) I was buying an iPad Air for gaming. Deus Ex the fall, GTA, XCOM. All these games push the 1Gb of RAM. I am just not going to buy a iPad Air now, spending my money on a Macbook Pro Retina with upgraded RAM and storage :) Better value for money as well as it will last me a lot longer than an iPad with 1Gb of RAM.
 
MartinAppleGuy said:
So you think I look at cat pictures!!! :) I was buying an iPad Air for gaming. Deus Ex the fall, GTA, XCOM. All these games push the 1Gb of RAM. I am just not going to buy a iPad Air now, spending my money on a Macbook Pro Retina with upgraded RAM and storage :) Better value for money as well as it will last me a lot longer than an iPad with 1Gb of RAM.
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In your case, if your observation is the result of lacking RAM, then yes.

What I was saying was that looking at the hardware specs can be misleading. Given any reasonable amount of resource (RAM, storage), developers always want more, and bloated apps always need more.

So the question I always ask myself is not how much memory or storage a device has, but does it have what I need to do what I want to do with that device.
 
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meistervu said:
In your case, if your observation is the result of lacking RAM, then yes.

What was saying was that looking at the hardware specs can be misleading. Given any reasonable amount of resource (RAM, storage), developers always want more, and bloated apps always need more.

So the question I always ask myself is not how much memory or storage a device has, but does it have what I need to do what I want to do with that device.
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For me; no. For others; yes. Of topic question: do you have a macbook/iMac and run many game in OSX?
 
MartinAppleGuy said:
For me; no. For others; yes. Of topic question: do you have a macbook/iMac and run many game in OSX?
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Yes, I have a MacBook. No, I don't run games on OSX. I mostly look at cat pictures. So far, no complaint :). I am going to look at dog pictures but I can't imagine they take any more memory than cats.
 
pear21 said:
Why does everyone think that there will be a new iPad in March? We wont see a new one until November 2014. The only reason the fourth generation was released so early after the 3 was because they thought it was completely necessary to add the lightning connector at that time.
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I dont buy that lighting connector thing, they still sell the ipad2 and 4s today. The ipad3 was gimped by its cpu/gpu, the ipad air will be gimped by ram.
 
MartinAppleGuy said:
2Gb of RAM is really needed though on the iPad line. The iPad 4 is actually better of as it uses 32bit rather than 64 because 6bit has a 20-30% increase in RAM footprint.
Click to expand...

From a business perspective if Apple were to put 2GB RAM in the iPad Air now, people wouldn't sell and update this time next year when the slightly better model would be released.

Not saying more RAM ain't better.

And for the record, I am holding off till next year riPad mini, I think my iPad 2 can last me another year.
 
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ZBoater said:
I think you should wait. Next year's model will be better for sure.

And save this post. Read it again next year.
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And then next year don't buy cause next next year will be better for sure :p

You know what, just forget about it. Don't buy any computer stuff cause every next year will be better for sure
 
MartinAppleGuy said:
I plan to get an iPad for gaming (Deus Ex, XCOM, GTA...). With 64bit taking up 20-30% more RAM for each application, I don't feel the iPad Air will last as long for my needs. How long will I have to wait for next years iPad (March for an iPad Pro), or just a 6th gen. iPad with 2Gb of RAM?
Click to expand...

if i were you i will wait a few months.
 
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